Severe Weather

Thursday 26 November

11am update:

Our crews are continuing to clean up around the District after yesterday’s severe rainfall.

We received more than 700 phone calls around weather related issues to our hotline yesterday.

Warning signs have put in place at the Kurapete Stream and Everett Park near Inglewood, after the Inglewood wastewater settling pond began overflowing.

Please do not swim or gather kai from any areas with warning signs in place.

This morning, our wastewater pump stations are back to normal operation and we’re continuing to watch them closely as more rain falls.

There are no closed roads but we are working on cleaning up slips and seal damage.

A heavy rain watch remains in place until mid-afternoon today.

Please continue to drive safely if you are out on the roads.

Wednesday 25 November

4:30pm update

About 80 millimetres of rain fell in five hours in central New Plymouth today which overwhelmed the city’s water network.

This downpour also impacted Inglewood but Waitara and Bell Block largely escaped the deluge.

Sewage overflows and flooding at various pump stations from this morning, are now under control. There will be an investigation into these overflows.

There are public warnings in place from Ngāmotu beach through to Bell Block beaches.

Please do not swim or eat kai from these areas and warning signs have been put up.

We have crews on the ground, to tidy up any rain related debris or drainage issues. 

We’ll continue to keep a close eye on the situation overnight, and we have people on standby in case we experience further extreme rainfall.

Please continue to drive safely and remember to not swim or eat kai from some waterways.

Investment in our ageing water network is a key consideration in our next 10-Year Plan and will help ensure our system can perform during severe weather events like this.

12pm update

A severe weather event has resulted in surface flooding and sewerage overflows around some parts of the District.

Residents are urged to slow down, take care and drive to the conditions and to not swim or collect kai from some waterways.

Our emergency response team has been mobilised and public health warnings signs will be put up.

We have crews on the ground, to tidy up any rain related debris or drainage issues. 

More heavy rain is forecast for today and overnight.

Investment in our ageing water network is a key consideration for our next 10-Year Plan and will help ensure our system can perform during severe weather events like this.

Closed roads

• Huatoki Plaza by the river and the Puke Ariki under pass in central New Plymouth are closed. This will be re-evaluated at 8am tomorrow.
• Calvert road in Moturoa is closed.
• Brougham St is about to be closed.
• Egmont Road between Katere and Henwood roads, please take care.

Sewerage overflows

• There is a sewage overflow into a stormwater drain on Konini Street, Inglewood.
• Ngāmotu beach pump station is overflowing.
• Te Henui pump station is overflowing, please keep clear of East End and Fitzroy beaches.
• Huatoki pump station has overflowed.
• All Waitara wastewater is going into storage.
• Glen Avon, the river is coming into the pump station.
• Our historic Wastewater Treatment Plant is in overdrive, pumping around 1,300 litres a second and operating to its maximum capacity but coping.